Rhode Island FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC Player Ratings - 07/08/2026

We were treated to a lightweight matchup between two of the lowest-ranked teams in the league on Wednesday night - and that's exactly what it looked like, as Rhode Island FC put up a sloppy performance in a 2-1 loss at Sacramento Republic FC on Wednesday night.

This was almost unrecognizable from the Rhode Island team that took 24 shots just this past Saturday night against the best team in the Western Conference. Please forgive the harsh scores, but I'm grumpy that it's past 12:30 on a Wednesday night and I've just watched another poor performance from a talented-but-underperforming and wildly inconsistent team. It's become all too familiar over the last 16 months.

Click below if you're interested in seeing 2026 player historical ratings.

Rhode Island FC Player Ratings:

Koke Vegas (GK) - 4/10

Koke had an absolute stinker of a first half - particularly on the first Sacramento goal. It's inexcusable for a goalkeeper to get beaten one-on-one to a ball they could have claimed out of the air. Koke did recover nicely and make a couple of big stops in the second half.

Frank Nodarse (D) - 5/10

There were miscued clearances, missed headers, and all manner of sloppy play from all of our defenders in the first half. The best I can say for Frank is that at least he wasn't involved in either of the Sacramento goals.

He may have gotten away with a penalty in the second half when he shouldered an attacking player off the ball, but that's not important any more.

Grant Stoneman (D) - 3/10

Stoneman has been putting together a strong season, but his defensive work was shoddy at best in Sacramento. He miscued one headed clearance across the mouth of our net that could've been an own goal, and was nearly a tap in for Sacramento. In the 45th minute, he backed off of Malango as he winds up for a powerful shot (which finds the back of the net).

Karifa Yao (D) - 6/10

Our only defender who can truly hold their head high - Yao was the least noticeable defender in the first half (a compliment) and then proceeded to bail us out repeatedly in the second half. He ended up leading all players with 12 defensive contributions.

Nick Scardina (D) - 5/10

A mixed bag for Scardina - he had a couple of bright moments going forward (including an early cross for Hugo in the 40th minute that Hugo heads just barely over the net), but had his hands full and defensively with Malango - who got the better of him and Grant Stoneman a handful of times.

Hugo Bacharach (MF) - 6/10

One of three players who should be proud of the performance tonight. Hugo scored with his head on a cross from Amos Shapiro-Thompson for the second time this week. While we won't get free chicken for this one, it counted all the same.

Besides the goal, Hugo was active all over the pitch and finished with a game-high 11 duels won. Cross your fingers that the apparent Hugo injury isn't too serious, because we are in big trouble if it is (with Clay and Herivaux already on the injury report).

Amos Shapiro-Thompson (MF) - 6/10

Amos was the brightest spot for Rhode Island FC on an otherwise poor night. He was a live wire in the midfield - both going forward, and breaking up play. And for the second time this week, Amos hit the scoresheet with an assist via a cross that Hugo Bacharach headed home in the 25th minute.

At times, his final ball in the attacking third still let him down, but he created a lot of dangerous chances simply through his tenacity.

Noah Fuson (MF) - 3/10

This was Noah's first league start of the season, and it was around what you'd expect based on how his season has gone so far. Noah is playing on low confidence and it's affecting his decision-making and willingness to take players on.

Early in the match, he had a fast break and a chance to take on the last Sacramento defender... instead he slowed it down, chopped the ball backwards, and eventually passed into traffic. Frankly, it didn't get much better from there.

Aldair Sanchez (F) - 4/10

Aldair was initially deployed in more of a left-wing position (despite being a career fullback), and didn't look quite comfortable there. His work off the ball was fine, but he underwhelmed going forward - having the fewest touches of all Rhode Island starters, and attempting only one cross in the first half.

JJ Williams (F) - 3/10

A second consecutive poor performance from JJ. It's especially glaring due to the otherwise special season that he's having. JJ really didn't do or generate anything that stands out in my memory - mustering just one shot on the night (off target) - and he really struggled with his ground duels, finishing with just one win out of seven.

Leo Afonso (F) - 4/10

All of our forwards seriously underwhelmed in this match, and Leo was no exception. Like JJ, Leo managed just one shot (which was blocked) and one chance created in 82 minutes.

Subs

Pity Rodriguez - 4/10

Pity came on in the 58th minute to inject some life into the offense, but was largely ineffective. He did get in dangerous areas to take a couple shots - but continues not to be clinical enough in the final third.

Jojea Kwizera - 5/10

Perfectly adequate substitute performance. He certainly didn't spark the offense but wasn't actively hurting it, either.

Dwayne Atkinson - 5/10

It was a fairly lively substitute appearance for Dwayne, and I think he could've come on for Noah sooner (who was really struggling).

Dani Rovira - N/A

No score, but in his brief cameo, Rovira unironically showed more fight and will to drive forward than a lot of our team did.

Kevin Vang - N/A

And the same goes for Kevin Vang. He helped to generate a chance for Pity in second half stoppage time that nearly led to an equalizing goal.

Rating Scale:

• 1/10 – Abysmal. You might as well have me on the pitch.
• 2/10 – Very bad
• 3/10 – Bad
• 4/10 – Below Average
• 5/10 – Average. The player did their job.
• 6/10 – Good
• 7/10 – Very good
• 8/10 – Great
• 9/10 – Outstanding
• 10/10 – Transcendent performance. Watch out, because Real Madrid may come knocking.